Slant community chat on Discourse| 14 Recommended Products | Recommendations | Impedance | Frequency range | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 JBuds J4 · · · | 20 | 2 | 16 Ohm | 20 - 20000 Hz | Optional |
| #2 Shure SE215· · · | 11 | 0 | 17 Ω | 22 - 17500 Hz | Optional |
| #3 Jabra VOX· · · | 10 | 1 | 16 Ohm | 20 - 20000 Hz | Yes |
| #4 Sennheiser IE80· · · | 5 | 0 | 16 Ω | 10Hz - 20kHz | – |
| #5 Klipsch Image S4i Rugged· · · | 5 | 0 | 18 Ohm | 10 - 19000 Hz | Yes |
| #6 Sennheiser IE 800· · · | 2 | 0 | 16 Ohm | 5 - 46500 Hz | Optional |
Pro Heavy-duty aluminum housing
JBuds J4 components are protected by rigid aluminum cylinders, capped with aluminum grills.
Pro Durable Kevlar-reinforced flat cables with strain relief
J4 cables are reinforced with kevlar to resist breakage. The flat design helps prevent kinks, as the cable coils rather than twisting or bunching. Also, tough and flexible reinforced exoskeletons protect the cable connections and joints.
Con Heavy wires generate noise
The J4's thick cables carry sound like a stethoscope, including the sound of the cables themselves moving and rubbing against things. This can be particularly bad while walking or running.
Con No volume control
The J4s come with a mic and control switch, but no built-in volume control.
Con Significant defect rate
Although the J4s are built to be durable, many users report them breaking down after 1-3 months of light use.
Pro Rich, full sound
An overall full sounding pair of earphones. Bass is emphasized to give a bit of a thump while remaining well controlled. Mids are rich; highs avoid sibilance, though they're a bit rolled off. Soundstage is okay--instruments are separated out enough for them to not sound like they're all c...
Pro Outstanding build quality makes them long lasting
SE215 earbuds use tough plastic earpiece shells, have a robust kevlar-reinforced cable, a sturdy Y-splitter that's difficult to bend and an L-shaped plug that adds additional strain relief. They won't break if you snag them, drop them or sit on them. They're also completely sweat proof...
Con Need some time getting used to
However, it may take some getting used to memory cables and there's a bit of a learning curve to putting the earphones in with memory eartips. At first memory cables may seem a bit stiff, but after they're broken in, they're generally more comfortable than typical wires. There's ev...
Con Inline mic and volume controls cost an extra $50
The supplied detachable cable does not have a mic or inline volume controls. They can be added by upgrading to the M+ cable.
Pro Handles music with deep bass exceptionally well
Jabra VOX can play forceful, high-volume bass without distortion.
Pro App includes equalizer and Dolby sound enhancement
The free Jabra app allows custom frequency EQ, and provides Dolby virtual surround and frequency enhancement tailored for the VOX.
Con Bass heavy
These earbuds are great for those who are looking for good bass, but higher frequencies aren't very clear.
Pro Audiophile-grade sound quality
The main reason to get the IE80 is the excellent soundstage that you won't get with cheaper earbuds. The soundstage is wide and balanced with instruments clearly separated, allowing you to easily identify their position. It creates a very immersive sound. The sound signature is great overall...
Pro Built to last you a long time
IE80 earbuds use high-quality kevlar-reinforced cables with a thick rubber strain relief and the earpiece shells have brushed metal plating. A strong connector holds detachable cables in place. Additional strain reliefis added by the L-shaped plug. These earphones are built to last and if there are
Con Replacement cables are expensive as well
If you need to replace the cables, they retail for about $20.
Con Rather expensive
While these are among the cheapest audiophile-grade earphones, they're still priced at $250. It's a serious investment. And for many, just not worth it.
Pro Crisp treble and solid bass
Klipsch S4 earphones have excellent response at both the high and low ends of the audible spectrum, providing clean and undistorted sound.
Pro Built for outdoor and sports use
Klipsch S4i Rugged earphones are designed to withstand extreme conditions in both activity and environment.
Con Controls are designed for Apple products
The built in controls are only guaranteed to work with iPhone 3GS and onward. (The Klipsch S4a, designed for Android devices, does not have a rugged version.)
Pro Oxygen-free, kevlar-reinforced copper cable
Wrapped and sealed in an oxygen-free environment, these cables are immune to corrosion so long as their tough kevlar shielding remains intact.
Pro Oval eartips are comfortable and secure
The oval eartips are able to provide a more secure fit within the ear canal.
Con Cables not detachable from earpieces
The IE 800 cables are soldered into the earpieces. There is a jack where left and right cables come together, and the remainder of the cable can be replaced, but damage above the split is not user-repairable.
Pro Great sound for the price
An overall balanced sound with slightly emphasized bass. It's not thumping bass, but it's not anemic either and it doesn't bleed into other ranges. Mids and highs are clear with no sibilance. There's close to no distortion in any of the frequencies. Even the soundstage is fair for...
Pro Very comfortable for everyday/casual use
The earbuds are light and small with an angled nozzle, fitting most ears comfortably. It's comfortable to wear both over and under-ear.
Con Not a good option to use for exercising.
Along with not being sweat-resistant, they tend to slightly move around in your ear regardless of chosen eartips. This can be distracting.
Pro Engineered to work long term
While some sets of earphones are manufactured to break quickly, these are made to last. While there are no outstanding qualities about their build (like kevlar reinforcement), they still meet expectations about how long earphones should last.
Con Dysfunctional cable splitter
The cable parts below and above the splitter, potentially causing unnecessary stray cables.
Pro Smooth, rich bass
These earphones are known for their excellent bass, and present a balanced sound overall.
Pro Water resistant
Every component with these earphones is water resistant. These have an IPX-3 weather resistant rating, meaning that they are essentially splash proof but shouldn't be submerged.
Con Ear sweat buildup
Users have reported difficulties when using these during exercise.
Con Too much treble
Some find the ADV ALPHA high-end frequency response to be overbalanced.
Pro Engineered for exercise
The SoundSport earpieces are designed to stay in when running or performing other intense activity.
Pro No ambient sound isolation
Because these earbuds are intended for exercise, they let in outside sound so users can remain safe and alert.
Con No ambient sound isolation
By design, these earbuds do not obstruct outside sound, making them inappropriate for use when isolation is desirable.
Pro Warranty supported after over a decade and a half
There are tons of stories from customers that talk about how they supported their warranty after decades with no receipt, at only the cost of shipping and handling. Koss really means it when they say lifetime warranty.
Know any negative aspects of this option?
Pro Good value for money as a lot of accessories are included
With the M2, you get 2 types of ear tips with three sizes each, a shirt clip to prevent the cable from moving around when worn and ear cable guides to help keep the headphones in place.
Pro Cables won't tangle or break easily as they are braided and sleeved
The M2's cables are braided, and then covered with a sleeving material. This makes the cable significantly more durable than other cables. Also, the cables do not have a lot of memory, which means that they are not likely to tangle.
Con Highs may be lacking for some
The highs lack in sparkle or air up the higher frequency range. Those looking for a lot of detail reproduction from the headphones that they use may find this one to be lacking in the highs department.
Con No in-line microphone
Not really a con, as headphones are primarily for music listening. However, this can be inconvenient when used with a smartphone and you have to take calls.
Pro Sustainable design
GrizzlyBuds are committed to reducing consumer waste. Each part can be individually replaced, meaning that no working parts need to be thrown away if just one piece breaks.
Pro Replacement parts are cheap
If one of the speakers goes out, it costs $14 to replace. If the cable goes out, it costs $11. Note that the assembled product is only $2 less than building it from parts.
Con No option for controls or mic
Despite a replaceable cable, GrizzlyBuds does not offer anything beyond basic headphone function.
Con Sketchy company
These originally appeared on Kickstarter as "IRONBuds", for which the company never delivered on their promised product. What they did deliver suffered from poor construction quality, and looks exactly like what is pictured here. The custom components that allow the parts to be swappable
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